Writing and reference in Ifa divination chants

Abstract By casting Ifa stories in a relatively permanent medium, Christian missionaries would be creating a self-reflection apparatus for the literate nonbeliever with which to critically examine the spheres of thought hitherto controlled by the guild of divination priests, the babalawo. Taking divination stories to be Ifa's main tool of mind control, Bishop Phillips recommended print dissemination of these narratives as a means of freeing the critical faculty of non-Christians from the shroud of secrecy (awo) with which Ifa priests deceived Yoruba people through the ages. Print technology, he thought, would separate mystery (awo) from its curators (babalawo). For Bishop Phillips, the deep secret of pre-Christian Yoruba worship lay not in sculptured icons but in the reasoning that inspired divination stories. If the stories were converted to portable packages comparable to the Bible, the only book authored by the true God, then the theological errors of Yoruba religion could be easily pointed out. In a palpable, scripted shape, indigenous religious thought could be quoted, disputed, and exposed.Quotation marks removed from title to ensure alphabetical order. Difference as follows; "Writing" and "Reference" in Ifa Divination Chant

An Investigation of the Nexus between Poverty and the Informal Sector in Developing Economies: A Case Study of Nigeria

This paper examines the relationship between poverty and the informal sector in Nigeria. In order to achieve this objective both primary and secondary sources of data mostly spanning from 1980 to 2014 are utilized. The methodology follows three stages. First, the Granger causality test is performed to determine the direction of causality. Using that information, a baseline model, along with several variants, is built on the next stage. Lastly, a robustness check is completed to ensure that the results do not exhibit severe spuriousness problems. Granger causality tests indicate that the informal sector causes poverty. Overall, nine models including some key determinants of poverty, such as unemployment, debt service, inflation, rural population and corruption, are considered. The robustness check includes two distinct steps. First, different proxies for poverty and the informal sector are used. Second, a Jarque-Bera test is conducted. The findings from the check shows that the residuals are normally distributed and not spurious. The regression result reveals that as the informal sector expands, poverty expands too. Therefore, a reduction in the size of the informal sector could be targeted by decision makers in their attempt to fight poverty in Nigeria. In practice, policies focusing on curtailing red tapes or lengthy bureaucratic processes, stamping out corruption, and training as well as providing support to small business owners could be implemented or strengthened

The law and policy of financial regulation and deregulation of Nigerian banking system

This thesis is a study of banking regulation in Nigeria. It has three main objectives: to explain the evolution and impact of banking regulation after independence to discuss the reasons for the persistent failure of financial regulation; and to highlight the role of external agencies in Nigeria's financial system. The thesis offers a historical perspective on the developments in Nigerian banking regulation, but focuses mainly on the period after independence. It examines the economic and political theories that have influenced financial regulatory trends in Nigeria. It considers these theories in their political and legal context. The thesis does not embrace any theory in particular. Instead, its approach is pragmatic and comparative focusing on the interaction between legal, political and institutional factors that have influenced financial regulation in Nigeria. The study shows that the pre-liberalisation regulatory norms were repressive and inefficient. It argues that banking deregulation was introduced as an economic revolution devoid of necessary corresponding political and legal changes. The core destabilising factors are identified as inadequate regulatory powers, political corruption, political instability, legal instability, policy distortions, and incongruous laws. The complicity of the IMF and World Bank in this process is also discussed. Financial deregulation was prompted by predatory politics characteristic of the Nigerian state; yet, deregulation has aggravated the country's political instability and exacerbated prebendalism. The thesis discusses policy options to break this vicious circle

Consumer perception on the healthiness of snacks in Nigeria

As mudanças no comportamento de snacking nos países em desenvolvimento são uma preocupação crescente. Isto porque os alimentos consumidos como snacks tendem a ser altamente energéticos e pobres em nutrientes. Estudos anteriores demonstraram que as alegações de saúde podem influenciar a perceção do consumidor sobre os snacks, porém pouco se sabe especificamente sobre quão saudável as diferentes categorias de snacks são percebidas pelos consumidores. Determinar como os Nigerianos percecionam os snacks que consomem pode permitir melhorar a comunicação para promover um aumento no consumo dos snacks mais saudáveis ou motivá-los a optar por alternativas mais saudáveis de snacks altamente energéticos que já consomem. Este conhecimento é importante para o planeamento de intervenções bem-sucedidas e para a conceção de snacks saudáveis, que também podem ser apelativos para grupos com riscos alimentares mais elevados. O objetivo foi investigar como os Nigerianos percebem quão saudáveis são as diferentes categorias de snacks disponíveis para consumo na Nigéria. Um questionário foi desenvolvido com base no Grunert’s Food Related Lifestyle Model (FRLM) considerando vários fatores que influenciam as perceções, intenções e relatos de compra das categorias de snacks. Os dados foram analisados no Excel usando análise de clusters, análise de variância e testes t-student. O estudo teve uma taxa de resposta de 42%, com 43 participantes que completaram o questionário. Os resultados mostraram em que ocasiões as diferentes categorias de snacks são consumidas, a disponibilidade e acessibilidade das mesmas. Adicionalmente, foram também investigadas as diferenças na perceção de saudável e na preferência das categorias de snacks. As diferentes categorias apresentam diferenças significativas na perceção de serem ou não saudáveis [F (6, 294) = 23,44, (p = 0.000)] e também na sua preferência de consumo pelos consumidores [F (6, 294) = 3,31, (p = 0.000)].Changes in snacking behavior in developing countries are a growing concern. Since food commonly consumed as snacks tend to be both energy dense and nutrient poor. Previous research has shown that health claims can influence consumer’s perception of snack products, however little is known about consumer’s perceptions on the healthiness of specific snack categories. Determining how the Nigerian demographic perceive the snacks they consume can allow for better communication to promote an increase in the consumption of healthier snacks or motivate them to opt for healthier alternatives of the energy dense snacks they already consume. This knowledge is important for planning successful interventions and designing healthy snacks that can also appeal to population groups with higher dietary risks. The aim was to investigate how Nigerians perceive the healthiness of common snack categories available for consumption in Nigeria. A questionnaire was developed based on Grunert’s Food Related Lifestyle Model (FRLM) as a framework for considering various factors which influence perceptions, purchase intentions and reported purchasing of snack categories. The quantitative data was analyzed on Excel using cluster analysis, ANOVA, and paired t-test. The study has a 42% response rate with 43 respondents completing the questionnaire. The results showed the consumption of selected snack categories in relation to the time of day they’re consumed, the availability and affordability of the snacks. In addition to that, respondents perceived healthiness level and liking of each snack categories were also investigated. There were significant differences at the p<0.05 level between perceived healthiness (F (6, 294) = 23.44, p=0) and liking (F (6, 294) =3.31, p=0) of snack categories

Use of Library Resources and Services among Undergraduates in Nigerian Universities

Abstract University libraries are established to meet the information needs of the university communities of which undergraduates constitute a significant portion. However, literature has shown that the level of use of the university libraries by the undergraduates is relatively low despite all the funds expended on library resources and services. This study, therefore, was designed to evaluate the level of use library resources and services by undergraduates in federal universities in the North-central, Nigeria. The five conventional federal universities in the North-central zone of Nigeria were enumerated while three homogenous faculties and six departments were purposively selected to give a sample size of seven hundred and ninety seven. Major purpose of university library use was to study (68.4%), majority of the undergraduates preferred to use university main library (66.2%) while very few of them used their libraries remotely (15.0%). Level of use of library resources and services were moderate (53.9%). Books were mostly used (= 4.36) by the undergraduates compare to the other library resources and services while loaning services were the least used (= 2.73). It was however recommended that the stakeholders in the university library should create awareness about the importance of library through current awareness programmes in order to increase library patronage

Charter School Authorization: A Gateway to Excellence and Equity

The lack of quality education many charter schools offer disproportionately and adversely impacts communities of color. This article considered two models of charter school governance in use by California and Ohio. The first model posits that a fundamental tenet of charter schools is freedom from the burdensome bureaucracy traditional public schools bear. Based on the argument that deregulation enables charter schools to employ more innovative instructional and management practices, it assumes higher achievement scores would follow. The second model proposes to address educational inequality by increasing accountability on charter school authorizers by increasing regulatory practices. These models example the variety of governance models extant. In addition, arguments supporting each model are presented. The authors conclude with a discussion that supports the position that while autonomy is essential to maintaining the original objectives of charter schools, states must hold authorizers accountable for student achievement

Near Surface Geophysical Imaging For Shallow Groundwater Flow Evaluation Using Electrical Resistivity And Self-Potential Methods

The analysis of water flow in the earth subsurface is a vital issue to hydrogeology, environmental, geotechnical, and engineering studies. Despite this importance, less attention had been given to it which resulted in serious engineering and environmental hazard. This, therefore, necessitate the present study to mitigate the problem. The research aimed to study the near surface geophysical imaging for shallow groundwater flow in Archaeology gallery, Perpustakaan Hamzah Sendut 2, Sungai Batu, Lojing, and Kluang district Southern Peninsular Malaysia. To achieve this aim, 2-D resistivity, self-potential, and geotechnical methods were employed. The results reveal that anomaly -140 to 0 mV of self-potential is likely to be shallow groundwater flow recharge (infiltration) which established by 2-D resistivity inversion with low resistivity <100 Ωm at depth <5 m that accumulated in the region, which possibly indicate the presence of sandy silt, sandy clay and sand with the correlation of the geological setting of the study areas. From the result of particle size distribution curve, soil types and other parameters that can influence hydraulic conductivity (K) were determined. Furthermore, the soil layers were unconsolidated ranges from coarse sand, medium sand and other finer sediments which enhance water flow due to porosity and hydraulic conductivity factors. The hydraulic conductivity result (0.00009 to 0.001 m/s) shows that the soil is permeable, which relate to self-potential magnitude (0.3 to 3.7) of moderate size length. The samples used in this study were poorly graded soil condition because uniformity coefficient (CU) is greater than 4

Training needs on aquaculture value addition among fish farmers in Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria

The study assessed the training needs of fish farmers on value addition in Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria. Data were collected from fish farmers using interview guide. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data while Chi-square and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation were employed to test relationship between variables. Respondents in this study were male dominated, in their productive ages (mean age of 38) and largely well educated (52% had tertiary education). Important training needs of respondents on value addition were improved smoking technology ( x̄ = 2.61), as well as improved packaging and labeling ( x̄ = 2.30), improved short duration storage technology ( x̄ = 2.29) and catching techniques ( x̄ = 2.20). Farmers’ stocking rate (r = 0.266, P = 0.017) and number of ponds (r = 0.243, P = 0.030) had a significant relationship with the training needs of farmers on fish value addition. The study therefore recommended that robust training programme and advisory services be made available by extension for fish farmers in areas of fish smoking, types packaging and storage material in order to enhance their utilization of value addition initiatives in fish farming.Keywords: Fish farming, value addition initiatives, constraint

Negotiating stigmatised identities: Enterprising refugee women in the United Kingdom

This article critically analyses the complexities of identity work among refugee women entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom. Once labelled as refugees, individuals are homogenised and disadvantaged by association with this stigmatised identity. We explore how women refugees undertake dynamic identity work to recreate themselves as entrepreneurs attempting to ameliorate such stigma. Using case study evidence, we find that claiming an entrepreneurial identity enables the refutation of the stigmatised refugee label and as such, it can be personally enhancing by improving well-being and socio-economic standing. The vestigial negative effects upon access to entrepreneurial resources arising from gendered constraints and a refugee background however, persist. Thus, these refugee entrepreneurs face a double-edged sword; while challenging stigmas through entrepreneurship is potentially liberating, having a refugee background acerbates the impact of enduring structural challenges upon women’s entrepreneurial activity. This has implications for venture potential and relatedly, to the sustainability of fragile entrepreneurial identities among a cohort of vulnerable women